Effluvium was hungry. It was always hungry. It snorted and snuffled around Eridanus, its current hunting grounds. It had yet to see any big water--not like it had been in Cetus. So Effluvium counted this cave as verified safe. As it waddled, the dangling bird leg occasionally whapped it in the face.

It was on the eight such whap that Effluvium decided it was done with the bird leg, and attempted to catch the useless limb in its hands and eat it. It quickly came to the realization it could not catch the limb. It groan-roared, which morphed into angry snarlEffluvium turned its nose back to the floor. Food would make Effluvium feel better.

"Eat," it began, sniffing, following the scent of another lesser.

@Lass

she'd been wandering so much lately, the tall ferns of eridanus making her feel a little closed in, though, that was almost not the right word. small? no, she was small, but she didnt have to feel small! she kept walking. she didnt like that feeling.

she padded over to one of the small little trickles of water, dipping her head down to sip at it, trying not to slip and fall in.

@Effluvium

Effluvium's scent tracking had led it in circles. There was no lesser to follow. Atleast so far as it was aware. The thing, a flea snake, had latched onto Effluvium's arm, and wormed its way into an armpit. It was thoroughly nasty. Unaware it had been tracking its own self, Effluvium shook its head.

It settled on finding another lesser. It snuffled, searching for another scent. And one it found. It was oddly floral, but still smelt like meat. That meant it was meat. A lesser? The scent was thin. Small. Effluvium tracked the scent.

It was not stealthy as it went. It crashed through plants, and snapped plenty twigs underfoot. And then Effluvium saw it. A small, white thing, drinking water. Effluvium sped up, excited to eat once more. "Eat," it said to itself.

@Lass

Lass had never been one to be all that aware of danger, she thought heights were fun flying drops and and deep water a chance to swim. however, the unnerving and quickly approaching sound of leaves and twigs snapping and flapping was enough to send this baby into fight or flight. she arched her back in a hiss. crying out in sudden firey defensiveness, "NO COME CLOSER, I AM SCARY!" she yowled, but not with much might, her squeaks still almost barely audible.

@Effluvium

Effluvium stopped short, with a small strangled 'hurk' noise. It had not been expecting a voice. The small white dragon's voice was tiny and shrill. Another not-food, maybe. But this one was tiny, was it really a not food? Could something small be not food? The way its back arched was scary. It made the tiny dragon look big. All of this gave it pause. Its' tongue hung out, dangling, wedged between its jaws. In any case, Effluvium knew what it wanted, and what not-foods were made for. Effluvium advanced again.

"Meat," it demanded, a throaty growl.

@Lass

She shook her head "i no have meat! go away!" she mewed pathetically, baring her teeth.

she stopped though after a second, smiling. "i can lead you to meat! i can help find food!" she mewed "friend?"

@Effluvium

Effluvium was disgruntled by Lass' lack of food. It growled in response, and also in a bit of a child-like tantrum. "Eat," it repeated.

It did not know the reason for Lass' change of heart. But it could understand enough of Lass's speech to know the promise of food. Effluvium did not know what this...friend thing Lass mentioned was, but they concluded that it was probably another word for food. A new type of food.

"Eat friend," it huffed enthusiastically, waiting for Lass to lead it to more meat.

@Lass

she nodded, scittering over to hop onto eff's head, avoiding its many eyes and jaws. sitting comfortably, ignoring the horrible smell. "onward! meat!" she roared cutely.

@Effluvium

Effluvium blinked, mildly confused as Lass climbed over it. It shook its head once, then grumbled. It had been expecting Lass to find the meat. It did not want to share its food. But it relented. The small creature could be useful to Effluvium eventually. It stuck its jaws to the ground, inhaling the scent of the dirt of Eridanus. And, perhaps, something more.

A hacking cough followed. There was something stuck in its throat. Something more turned out to be a bug it inhaled. It coughed, spitting up mystery fluids, and pawing at its face, until it spat out a fly. Then, immediately, tried to eat the small bit of protein.


"When I speak."

When I think.(Will never be used)

@Lass ((ITS SO GROSS IM SORRY))